Director Jason Piper and his firm deny breaching and health and safety law.

Festival organiser Kendal Calling has already pleaded guilty to exposing an employee to risk under the Health and Safety at Work Act.

Piper Event Services Limited, of Howle Hill, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire, and company director, Mr Piper, 47, of Wye Street, Ross-on-Wye, are both accused of one count of contravening health and safety regulations.

'Obvious risk'

Mr Robinson, a director of Kendal Calling, told the jury at Carlisle Crown Court he hired Mr Piper after realising that the event had grown so big that an experienced health and safety professional was needed.

He said the firm had been recommended and he had asked it to carry out a risk assessment of the site and produce a safety management plan.

Mr Berry was hurt when his crane hit the cable while he was manoeuvring a portable building a few days before the festival at Lowther Park, the hearing heard.

The prosecution told the hearing that the cable was such a "serious and obvious" risk even an "amateur" could have spotted the danger.

The health and safety charges have been brought by Eden District Council.